China wholesales June 2023: BYD posts 5th consecutive win, market up 4.8%

The BYD Seagull is already inside the Chinese Top 25.

In June a raft of marketing activities by manufacturers and the instruction by the central government that local governments and financial institutions introduce subsidies to boost car sales can’t lift the Chinese wholesales market significantly. It only edges up 4.8% year-on-year in June to 2,622,000 units according to data by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Keep in mind June 2022 was up 23.8% on the year prior. Sales include 2,268,000 Passenger Vehicles (only +2.1%) while Commercial Vehicles soar 26.3% to 355,000. Meanwhile production is up 2.5% to 2,561,000 for the month. Passenger Cars are even down -0.9% to 2,219,000 whereas CVs are up 31.3% to 342,000. 

New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) continue to be the driving force of the Chinese market, with wholesales up 35.2% year-on-year in June to 806,000 with production up 32.8% to 784,000. NEVs account for 30.7% of the country’s auto sales this month. Sales of China-branded Passenger Vehicles gain 21.2% in June to 1,205,000 units, accounting for 53.1% of the market vs. 44.8% a year ago. Exports are up 53.2% to 382,000 including 78,000 NEVs (+170%).

The new Bingo can’t prevent Wuling from losing ground in June.

BYD (+66.5%) is the most popular carmaker in the country for the 5th month in a row and stretches its advantage over Volkswagen to over 115,000 units. Most BYD models are up in June, with the Dolphin (+156.8%), Tang (+66.3%) and Qin Plus (+64.9%) in great shape as are a mix of recent launches including the Song Pro (21,096), Seagull (16,560) and Corvette 07 (6,134). In contrast the following manufacturers, Volkswagen (-16.6%), Toyota (-14.2%) and Honda (-19.1%), are all hit hard. For Volkswagen, this paltry showing is despite strong scores by the T-Cross (+100.1%), Sagitar (+94.2%), Polo (+89.6%), Talagon (+35.2%) and Lamando (+21.1%). The entire ID EV range falls heavily: the ID.3 is down -35.1%, the ID.4 Crozz at -39.3%, the ID.4 X at -58.4%, ID.6 Crozz at -49% and the ID.6 X at -72.4%. The Front Lander (+74.8%), Corolla Cross (+71.9%), Wildlander (+22.5%) and Venza (+17.2%) can’t prevent Toyota from falling, while at Honda the e:NP1 (+1124.5%), Integra (+154.1%), Envix (+67%) and Breeze (+14.7%) are not sufficient to tilt the brand up.

Changan edges up 0.9% to round out the Top 5, with Geely (+13.3%) and GAC (+52.2%) in tow. Tesla (-4.8%) posts a rare year-on-year decline but still ranks #8 vs. #13 so far this year. Audi (-10.8%) suffers while Mercedes (+5.7%) is shy. Nissan (-27.2%) has a horror month and steps out of the Top 10 at #11, followed by BMW (+1.1%) and a struggling Wuling (-27.4%). At #17, Li Auto (+150.1%) manages a third consecutive monthly volume record, lifting it to over 32,500 units. COS (+395.6%) and Hongqi (+9.5%) are the only two additional gainers in the Top 20. Significant lifts below are rare and include Denza (#34), Beijing (+168.1%), Zeekr (+146.9%), Bestune (+53.1%), Lynk & Co (+34.6%) and Jetour (+32.6%). As for EV startups, Leap Motor is up 17.3%, NIO is down -17.4%, Neta down -26.7% and Xpeng off -43.6%.

Looking at the models ranking in isolation, the Tesla Model Y (-1.3%) reclaims the top spot both for the month and year-to-date despite lukewarm results. The BYD Qin Plus (+64.9%) falls to #2 in the two rankings, while the Nissan Sylphy (-35.2%) is relegated to third place. The VW Lavida (-13.3%) fares a little better just as the BYD Song Plus (-14.9%) climbs back up three spots on May to #5 but is still below the #3 it holds over H1. The VW Sagitar (+94.2%) is up four ranks on last month to #6, with the Dolphin (+156.8%), Han (-0.8%) and Yuan Plus (+42.2%) making it five BYDs in the Top 10. The Toyota Camry (+6.1%) makes its first appearance in the Top 10 since last October at #9. Other notable developments include the BYD Seagull up 43 spots on May to #23 with a record 16,560 sales, the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV imploding -65.4% to fall 29 ranks on last month to #40 and the Wuling Bingo down 24 spots to #48. 

Previous month: China wholesales May 2023: Market back up 27.9%, BYD Qin Plus now #1 year-to-date

One year ago: China wholesales June 2022: Market bounces back up 23.8% thanks to lifted lockdowns, incentives

Full June 2023 Top 90 All brands and Top 511 All models below.